Weed Stomping Tool

ABSTRACT

The invention is a method and apparatus for weed elimination using a manually operable weed stomping tool that is comprised of a handle, an elongated shaft, a footrest, and a weed stomping bit that has a cutting edge. When the weed stomping bit is positioned on the ground over the centre of a weed and downward pressure is applied, either by pushing on the handle or stepping on the footrest, the weed stomping bit is forced into the ground while simultaneously the cutting edge of the weed stomping bit severs the weed&#39;s foliage from the stem and the weed stomping bit crushes the weed stalk and attendant root structure to a depth below grade.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the invention

The present invention relates to garden tools, more specifically, a method and apparatus for weed elimination utilizing a manually operable weed stomping tool that incorporates a weed stomping bit that has a bottom cutting edge designed to sever the weed's foliage from the stem while simultaneously the weed stomping bit crushes the weed stalk and attendant root structure to a depth below grade.

2. Background Information

There are many types of garden tools which can be utilized to remove weeds from the lawn and garden. Most of these tools rely upon some type of sharpened spikes, or root clamping blades, claws, or members designed to entrap a weed between these parts and afterward remove the weed and attendant root structure from the ground with upward force. Examples of the aforementioned garden tools can be seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,234,241, 5,743,340, and Canadian patents 2507157, 2664002 as well as similar prior art. Other types of weed removing tools rely on extracting a core of soil containing the weed and attendant root structure, depositing the cores on the surface of the ground or into various receptacle types. Examples of the aforementioned other types of garden tools can be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 6,330,921 and Canadian patent number 2065940 and similar prior art. These types of prior art garden tools are not particularly efficient as multiple tasks are often needed to complete the extraction and debris clean up of a single weed. Often times these types of prior art garden tools leave undesirably large holes after weed extraction. These types of prior art garden tools rely upon one method or another to remove weeds or portions of weeds from the ground ultimately with upward force.

Accordingly, a method and apparatus for weed elimination using a weed stomping tool is disclosed having a handle, an elongated shaft, a footrest, and a weed stomping bit that has a bottom cutting edge. When the weed stomping bit is positioned on the ground over the centre of a weed and downward pressure is applied to the tool, either by pushing on the handle or stepping on the footrest, the weed stomping bit is forced into the ground while simultaneously the bottom cutting edge of the weed stomping bit severs the weed's foliage from the stem and the weed stomping bit crushes the weed stalk and attendant root structure to a depth below grade where they biodegrade. This method of eliminating weeds is novel because no removal of the weed takes place, but rather, foliage is severed from the weed, thereby cutting off the life-giving process of photosynthesis needed for the weed to survive, and the weed stalk and attendant root structure are crushed below grade where they biodegrade.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

While the design of prior art garden tools are relatively effective at removing weeds, ultimately with upward force and further clean-up of the removed weeds and accompanying removed soil, elimination of weeds can be made faster and easier by having a weed stomping tool designed to eliminate a weed with one forceful step on the footrest or one forceful push on the handle whereby the downward force of the weed stomping bit crushes the weed to a depth below grade where it biodegrades and no further clean-up is required.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A full understanding of the invention can be gained from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the weed stomping tool made as one entity.

FIG. 2 is an exploded/perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the weed stomping tool comprised of more than one entity.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the weed stomping tool, comprised of more than one part that includes a resilient member with a function which encircles the weed stomping bit.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view from a bottom angle showing an embodiment of the weed stomping bit of generally square rod shape.

FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view showing an alternate embodiment of the weed stomping bit of generally round rod shape.

DRAWINGS—REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   10 weed stomping tool -   12 handle -   14 elongated shaft -   15 elongated shaft upper end -   16 footrest -   17 elongated shaft lower end -   18 weed stomping bit -   20 bottom cutting edge -   22 attaching element -   24 weed stomping bit hole -   26 footrest hole -   28 handle grip -   30 footrest plate -   32 resilient element with a foliage arresting function -   33 foliage arresting ring -   34 inwardly bent end -   36 mating hole -   38 exterior bottom surface -   40 exterior side surface -   42 weed stomping bit upper end -   44 weed stomping bit lower end

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in FIG. 1, a weed stomping tool 10 includes a handle 12 an elongated shaft 14 a footrest 16 and a weed stomping bit 18. The elongated shaft 14 has an elongated shaft upper end 15 and an elongated shaft lower end 17. The handle 12 is located substantially to the elongated shaft upper end 15. The handle 12 in this embodiment radially extends from the elongated shaft 14. The footrest 16 is located substantially to the elongated shaft lower end 17. The footrest 16 in this embodiment radially extends from the elongated shaft 14. The weed stomping bit 18 has a weed stomping bit upper end 42 and a weed stomping bit lower end 44. The weed stomping bit 18 is defined by one exterior side surface 40. The weed stomping bit 18 has one bottom cutting edge 20. The bottom cutting edge 20 is further defined as a non-filleted or filleted vertex of the exterior bottom surface and the exterior side surface 40 of the weed stomping bit 18. The weed stomping bit 18 protrudes downwards from the footrest 16. In this embodiment the footrest 16 radially extends from the weed stomping bit 18. The weed stomping bit 18 and the elongated shaft 14 are parallel from each other and offset by the width of the footrest 16 in this embodiment. The weed stomping tool 10 in this embodiment is formed from one piece of material, such as metal, plastic, wood, etc. or other suitable material. When a user places the exterior bottom surface of the weed stomping bit 18 on the ground over the centre of a weed, and then applies generally downward pressure to the weed stomping tool 10 with one forceful step on the footrest 16 or one forceful push on the handle 12, the weed stomping bit 18 plunges into the ground, while simultaneously the bottom cutting edge 20 of the weed stomping bit 18 severs the weed's foliage from the stem. This foliage severing action thereby cuts off the life-giving process of photosynthesis needed for the weed to survive. Additionally, the weed stomping bit 18 crushes the weed stalk and attendant root structure to a depth below grade where they biodegrade.

An alternate embodiment as shown in FIG. 2 is an exploded/perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the weed stomping tool 10 comprised of more than one entity, including a handle 12 an elongated shaft 14 a footrest 16 and a weed stomping bit 18. The elongated shaft 14 has an elongated shaft upper end 15 and an elongated shaft lower end 17. The handle 12 is located substantially to the elongated shaft upper end 15. The handle 12 in this embodiment radially extends from the elongated shaft 14. The footrest 16 is located substantially to the elongated shaft lower end 17. The footrest 16 in this embodiment radially extends from the elongated shaft 14. The weed stomping bit 18 and the elongated shaft 14 are parallel from each other and offset by the width of the footrest 16 in this embodiment. The weed stomping bit 18 has a weed stomping bit upper end 42 and a weed stomping bit lower end 44. The weed stomping bit 18 is defined by more than one exterior side surface 40. The weed stomping bit 18 has more than one bottom cutting edge 20. The bottom cutting edges 20 are further defined as a non-filleted or filleted vertex of the exterior bottom surface and the exterior side surfaces 40 of the weed stomping bit 18. The weed stomping bit 18 has a hole 24 or plurality of holes drilled through the weed stomping bit upper end 42 to allow an attaching element 22 to pass through to connect the weed stomping bit 18 to the footrest 16. The footrest 16 has a hole 26 or plurality of holes to accept the attaching element 22 to attach the weed stomping bit 18 to the footrest 16. The weed stomping bit 18 protrudes downwards from the footrest 16. In this embodiment the footrest 16 radially extends from the weed stomping bit 18. The weed stomping tool 10 in this embodiment contemplates being formed from more than one part made from one or more types of material such as metal, plastic, wood, etc. In this embodiment the attaching element 22 is a bolt. Other suitable connection methods such as welding, gluing, element interlocking, or other appropriate methods for uniting various parts of the weed stomping tool 10 could be used to affix the various parts one to the other. When a user places the exterior bottom surface of the weed stomping bit 18 on the ground over the centre of a weed, and then applies generally downward pressure to the weed stomping tool 10 with one forceful step on the footrest 16 or one forceful push on the handle 12, the weed stomping bit 18 plunges into the ground, while simultaneously the bottom cutting edges 20 of the weed stomping bit 18 sever the weed's foliage from the stem. This foliage severing action thereby cuts off the life-giving process of photosynthesis needed for the weed to survive. Additionally, the weed stomping bit 18 crushes the weed stalk and attendant root structure to a depth below grade where they biodegrade.

In an alternate embodiment as shown in FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the weed stomping tool 10 comprised of more than one entity, including a handle 12 an elongated shaft 14 a footrest 16 more than one weed stomping bit 18 and a resilient element with a foliage arresting function 32 bearing a foliage arresting ring 33. The elongated shaft 14 has an elongated shaft upper end 15 and an elongated shaft lower end 17. The handle 12 is located substantially to the elongated shaft upper end 15. The handle 12 in this embodiment radially extends from the elongated shaft 14 and has a handle grip 28. The footrest 16 is located substantially to the elongated shaft lower end 17. The footrest 16 in this embodiment radially extends from the elongated shaft 14. The weed stomping bit 18 and the elongated shaft 14 do not have parallel orientation in this embodiment. The weed stomping bit 18 has a weed stomping bit upper end 42 and a weed stomping bit lower end 44. The weed stomping bit 18 is defined by one or more exterior side surfaces 40. The weed stomping bit 18 has one or more bottom cutting edges 20. The bottom cutting edges 20 are further defined as a non-filleted or filleted vertex of the exterior bottom surfaces and the exterior side surfaces 40 of the weed stomping bit 18. The weed stomping bit 18 is encircled by the resilient element with a foliage arresting function 32 and the foliage arresting ring 33. The resilient element with a foliage arresting function 32 is a helical compression spring in this embodiment. The resilient element with a foliage arresting function 32 and the foliage arresting ring 33 have greater diameter than the widest cross-section of the largest weed stomping bit 18. This greater diameter allows the resilient element with a foliage arresting function 32 and the foliage arresting ring 33 to compress upward to a first compressed position without encumbrance when downward pressure is applied to the weed stomping tool 10. When no downward pressure is applied to the weed stomping tool 10, the resilient element with a foliage arresting function 32 returns without encumbrance to a second uncompressed position. The resilient element with a foliage arresting function 32 is slightly shorter in length than the weed stomping bit 18 of largest cross-section. The resilient element with a foliage arresting function 32 and the foliage arresting ring 33 serve to arrest the foliage of a weed when the user applies generally downward pressure to the weed stomping tool 10 by compressing the weed's foliage between the bottom, ground contacting surface of the foliage arresting ring 33 and the surface of the ground, thereby disallowing the foliage to follow the root stalk to a depth below grade when the weed stomping bit 18 plunges into the ground. In this embodiment the resilient element with a foliage arresting function 32 is connected to the weed stomping bit upper end 42 via a mating of an inwardly bent end 34 of the resilient element with a foliage arresting function 32 and a mating hole 36 in the weed stomping bit upper end 42. In this embodiment the attaching element 22 is a bolt. Other suitable connection methods such as welding, gluing, element interlocking, or other appropriate methods for uniting various parts of the weed stomping tool 10 could be used to affix the various parts one to the other. When a user places the exterior bottom surface of the weed stomping bit 18 on the ground over the centre of a weed, and then applies generally downward pressure to the weed stomping tool 10 with one forceful step on the footrest 16 or one forceful push on the handle 12, the weed stomping bit 18 plunges into the ground. Simultaneously the resilient element with a foliage arresting function 32 and the foliage arresting ring 33 are caused to be compressed upwards without encumbrance as the weed stomping bit 18 plunges downward, thus arresting the foliage of the weed between the surface of the ground and the bottom surface of the foliage arresting ring 33. As the weed stomping bit 18 plunges into the ground the bottom cutting edges 20 of the weed stomping bit 18 sever the weed's foliage from the stem. This foliage severing action thereby cuts off the life-giving process of photosynthesis needed for the weed to survive. Additionally, the weed stomping bit 18 crushes the weed stalk and attendant root structure to a depth below grade where they biodegrade.

In FIG. 4 an embodiment is shown of the weed stomping bit 18 having an additional weed stomping bit 18 of smaller cross-section attached to and protruding downwards from the bottom of the larger weed stomping bit 18. The weed stomping bit 18 has a weed stomping bit upper end 42 and a weed stomping bit lower end 44. The weed stomping bit 18 of smaller cross-section assists a user in the placement of the weed stomping bit 18 over the center of a weed by more readily identifying the center of the weed. The weed stomping bit 18 or plurality of weed stomping bits have one or more exterior side surfaces 40. The weed stomping bit 18 or plurality of weed stomping bits have one or more exterior bottom surfaces 38 and one or more bottom cutting edges 20 in this embodiment. The bottom cutting edges 20 are further defined as a non-filleted or filleted vertex of the exterior bottom surfaces 38 and the exterior side surfaces 40 of the weed stomping bit 18. This embodiment shows two weed stomping bit holes 24 drilled through the weed stomping bit upper end 42 to allow an attaching element to attach the weed stomping bit 18 to the weed stomping tool.

In FIG. 5 an alternate embodiment is shown of a weed stomping bit 18 having a weed stomping bit upper end 42 and a weed stomping bit lower end 44. The weed stomping bit 18 in this embodiment has one exterior side surface 40, one generally concave exterior bottom surface 38 and one bottom cutting edge 20. The bottom cutting edge 20 is further defined as a non-filleted or filleted vertex of the exterior bottom surface 38 and the exterior side surface 40 of the weed stomping bit 18. This embodiment shows two weed stomping bit holes 24 drilled through the weed stomping bit upper end 42 to allow an attaching element to attach the weed stomping bit 18 to the weed stomping tool.

While specific embodiments of the method and apparatus of the invention have been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to those details could be developed in the light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the invention which is to be given full breadth in the claims appended and any and all equivalents thereof. 

1. A manually operable weed stomping tool comprising: at least one elongated shaft having an upper end and a lower end; at least one handle, said handle being located substantially on said upper end of said elongated shaft; at least one footrest, said footrest being located substantially on said lower end of said elongated shaft; and at least one weed stomping bit having an upper end and a lower end, wherein said weed stomping bit is defined by one or more exterior side surfaces and one or more exterior bottom surfaces, said one or more exterior bottom surfaces having at least one bottom cutting edge, said weed stomping bit protruding downwards from bottom of said footrest, said footrest attached to said lower end of said elongated shaft, altogether being said manually operable weed stomping tool made as one entity.
 2. A manually operable weed stomping tool comprising: at least one elongated shaft having an upper end and a lower end; at least one handle, said handle being located substantially to said upper end of said elongated shaft; at least one footrest, said footrest being located substantially to said lower end of said elongated shaft; at least one weed stomping bit having an upper end and a lower end, wherein said weed stomping bit is defined by one or more exterior side surfaces, one or more exterior bottom surfaces, said one or more exterior bottom surfaces having at least one bottom cutting edge, said weed stomping bit being attached to said footrest and protruding downwards from the bottom of said footrest, said footrest attached to said lower end of said elongated shaft, altogether connected to move united as said manually operable weed stomping tool made of two or more separate entities.
 3. A manually operable weed stomping tool as in claim 1 or claim 2 that incorporates a resilient element with a foliage arresting function, as in a spring, said resilient element with a foliage arresting function having a greater helical diameter than the greatest horizontal cross-section dimension of said weed stomping bit, said resilient element with a foliage arresting function being shorter than and encircling said weed stomping bit and being attached to said upper end of said weed stomping bit.
 4. A method for eliminating weeds utilizing said manually operable weed stomping tool as in claim 1, whereby when said weed stomping bit of said weed stomping tool is positioned on the ground over the centre of a weed and downward pressure is applied to said weed stomping tool by one forceful push on said handle, or one forceful step on said footrest, said weed stomping bit is forced into the ground, while said at least one bottom cutting edge simultaneously severs a weed's foliage from the stem while said weed stomping bit crushes the weed stalk and attendant root structure to a depth below grade.
 5. A method for eliminating weeds utilizing said weed stomping tool as in claim 2, whereby when said weed stomping bit of said manually operable weed stomping tool is positioned on the ground over the centre of a weed and downward pressure is applied to said manually operable weed stomping tool by one forceful push on said handle, or one forceful step on said footrest, said weed stomping bit is forced into the ground, while said at least one bottom cutting edge simultaneously severs a weed's foliage from the stem while said weed stomping bit crushes the weed stalk and attendant root structure to a depth below grade.
 6. A method for eliminating weeds utilizing said weed stomping tool as in claim 3, whereby when said weed stomping bit of said manually operable weed stomping tool is positioned on the ground over the centre of a weed and downward pressure is applied to said manually operable weed stomping tool by one forceful push on said handle, or one forceful step on said footrest, said weed stomping bit is forced into the ground, while simultaneously said resilient element with a foliage arresting function is caused to be compressed upwards free of encumbrances upon contact with the ground, as said weed stomping bit plunges downward, said resilient element with a foliage arresting function arrests the foliage of the weed between the surface of the ground and the bottom ground contacting surface of said resilient element with a foliage arresting function, while said at least one bottom cutting edge of said weed stomping bit severs the weed's foliage from the weed's stem while said weed stomping bit crushes the weed stalk and attendant root structure to a depth below grade where they biodegrade.
 7. A weed stomping bit having an upper end and a lower end defined by at least one exterior side surface, at least one exterior bottom surface, said at least one exterior bottom surface having at least one bottom cutting edge, said at least one cutting edge being further defined as a non-filleted or filleted vertex of said at least one exterior bottom surface and said at least one exterior side surface of said weed stomping bit.
 8. The weed stomping bit as in claim 7 made from metal.
 9. The weed stomping bit as in claim 7 made from plastic.
 10. A method for eliminating weeds utilizing a garden tool that incorporates at least one weed stomping bit as in claim 7, whereby when said weed stomping bit of said garden tool is positioned on the ground over the centre of a weed and downward pressure is applied to said garden tool via a pressure receiving element of said garden tool, said weed stomping bit is plunged into the ground while said at least one bottom cutting edge simultaneously severs a weed's foliage from the stem while said weed stomping bit crushes the weed stalk and attendant root structure to a depth below grade where they biodegrade.
 11. The weed stomping tool as in claim 1 made from metal.
 12. The weed stomping tool as in claim 1 made from plastic.
 13. The weed stomping tool as in claim 2 made from metal.
 14. The weed stomping tool as in claim 2 made from plastic. 